Grippers for machines for shaping uppers over lasts



Oct. 4, 1955 F. E. STRATTON ET AL 2,719,310

GRIPPERS FOR MACHINES FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS Filed Jan. 11, 19523 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Fran/6 E. Szmzzzon P/zi Zip 1?. 500 it Oct. 4,1955 F. E. STRATTON ET AL 2,719,310

GRIPPERS FOR MACHINES FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS Filed Jan. 11, 19523 sheets-Sheet m M 95 w 74 Inventors Frank E. Szratton Philip 2a 500w O1955 F. E. STRATTON ET AL 2,719,310

GRIPPERS FOR MACHINES FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS 3 Sheets-Sheet (5Filed Jan. 11, 1952 Jig-6 Q Z'II\1 I 5 5%- fi? wl g United StatesPatcntO GRIPPERS FOR MACHINES FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS Frank E.Stratton and Philip R. Scott, Beverly, Mass, assignors to United ShoeMachinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New JerseyThis invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoesfor shaping uppers over lasts, and more particularly to means used insome machines of that class. for pulling the uppers. An immediate objectof the invention is to provide improvements in upper-pulling gripperssuch as are commonly used in pulling-over machines of the type disclosedin United States Letters Patent No. 1,029,387, granted on June 11, 1912, on an application of R. F. McFeely. The invention is accordinglyherein described as applied to such well-known grippers, but it shouldbe understood that it is not limited to details of this illustrativeembodiment.

As more fully disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,030,264,. granted onJune 18, 1912, on an application of R. F. McFeely, grippers commonlyused in machines of the above-mentioned type for pulling the uppers atthe ends, of the toes, and sometimes also at the sides of the foreparts,have the following characteristics. Each gripper includes a single pairof upper-gripping jaws carried by a casing, one jaw being fixed on thecasing and the other pivotally mounted thereon to swing toward and fromthe fixed jaw. Mounted in the casing to move relatively thereto indirections heightwise of the shoe is a jaw-closing device, sometimescalled a closing slide, provided witha roll arranged to engage a tailportion of the pivoted jaw and to swing that jaw toward the fixed jaw togrip the upper in response to movement of the closing slide. Suchmovement of the closing slide is effected by a gripper bar which extendsinto the casing and is connected by a latch to the slide. The gripperbar is operated by a lever, commonly known as an updraw lever, which isoperated yieldingly through a spring by a power-driven cam. Mountedwithin the gripper casing and within a recess in the gripper bar is aspring which is under compression and acts oppositely on the bar and thecasing respectively, the purpose of the spring being to hold the'casingstationary in a position determined by engagement of lugs thereon with abracket on the frame until the upper hasbeen gripped by the jaws throughthe movement of the closing slide, whereupon the gripper bar, actingthrough the closing slide, begins to move the casing with it to causethe jaws to pull the upper by reason of the resistance, of the upper tofurther closing movement of the pivoted jaw. After the pulling of theupper a tacker arm provided with wiping and tacking means is swunginwardly to cause the wiping means thereon to wipe the margin of theupper over the insole into position to be tacked. By its inward movementthis arm acts through a tripping member mounted on the closing slide toswing the above-mentioned latch into position to disconnect the closingslide from the gripper bar, whereupon the jaws release the upper and thegripper is Withdrawn from the shoe heightwise thereof by the springwhich acts on the updraw lever, the gripper also being swung inwardlyover the bottom .of the shoe as the tacker arm is swung fartherinwardly.

The disconnection of the closing slide from the gripper bar as abovedescribed frees the spring in the gripper. casing for further expansion,as a result of which the "ice casing is moved relatively to the gripperbar in a direction'toward the shoe while the gripper is being movedawayfrom. the shoe by the spring which acts on the updraw lever. Theextent of such reverse movement of the casing varies somewhat inaccordance with the thicknessof the upper materials previously grippedbetween the gripper jaws and is limited by engagement of portions of thebar and;the casing with each other. While the movement is comparativelyshort, its tendency, of course, is to retard the withdrawal of thegripper jaws from the shoe heightwise thereof after they release theupper. Under most operating conditions the jaws are, nevertheless,withdrawn promptly enough to avoid any unfavorable result. It has beenfound, however, that under some conditions, because of the tendency ofthe spring in the gripper thus to retard the withdrawal of the jaws,they may not clear the edge of the insole as the gripper is swunginwardly over the shoe bottom after release of the upper. Suchconditions may arise, for example, if the upper pattern allows for onlya scant lasting margin and the gripper terminates its upper-pullingmovement short of the position which it usually occupies at the end ofsuch movement.

In view of the above and other considerations, the present invention, inone aspect, provides a construction such as to avoid any tendency forthe gripper spring to retard the withdrawal of the gripper jaws from theshoe after their release of the upper. For the purpose in view theconstruction shown comprises a pawl carried by the gripper bar andarranged to engage teeth on the gripper casing to lock the bar and thecasing together against relative movement by the spring in the casingafter the pulling of the upper. More particularly, the pawl is movedinto operative position in response to the movement of theabove-mentioned latch to disconnect the closing slide from the gripperbar and thus to cause the gripper to release the upper, and in responseto reverse movement of the latch in the return of the parts to startingpositions the pawl is withdrawn from the teeth to permit the gripper barto move relatively to the casing in closing the gripper on the upper ofthe next shoe.

When the closing slide is moved relatively to the gripper casing toclose the pivoted jaw on the upper through the action of the rollcarried by the slide on the tail portion of the jaw, this portion of thejaw exerts a thrust on the slide toward one side of the casing. It hassometimes happened heretofore that because of the resulting frictionbetween the slide and the casing the latter would start to move with thegripper bar before the slide had moved far enough relatively to thecasing to cause the jaws to grip the upper with the desired amount offorce,

in consequence of which the upper might slip in the by the pivoted jawis taken by the rolls, the plate in which the rolls are positionedmoving with the slide but a shorter distance than the slide. Accordinglythere is no danger that friction between the slide and the casing maycause I the jaws to start prematurely their upper-pulling movement,substantially all the force applied to the casing by the gripper bar formoving the casing in the direction to pull the upper being that appliedthereto through the pivoted gripper jaw.

'For pulling the upper at opposite sides of the forepart machines of theabove-mentioned type are usually provided' with double side grippers asdistinguished from the gripper with a single pair of jaws used at theend of the toe. That is, each side gripper includes two pairs ofupper-gripping jaws, the two pairs of jaws, being carried respectivelyby separate gripper casings mounted for relative movements heightwise ofthe shoe and associated with a single gripper bar operated by asideupdraw lever; Mounted within each casing is a spring arranged to actoppositely on that casing and on the gripperbar'to con' trol the casingin the same manner as the spring hereinabove referred to as part of thegripper having a single pair of jaws. Mounted in the two casings areclosing slides connected together for relative movements heightwise ofthe shoe by a lever pivotally mounted between its ends on a block whichis normally connected by a latch to the gripper bar to cause the bar toclose both pairs of jaws on the upper and to operate them to pull theupper. A tripping member pivoted on the block is operated by the inwardmovement of the corresponding side tacker arm to' move the latch intoposition to dis-- connect the gripper bar from the closing slides andthus to cause the pairs of jaws to release the upper, whereupon thegripper is withdrawn from the shoe heightwise thereof by aspring actingon its updraw lever as it is swung inwardly over the shoe bottom. Theconstructi'on thus outlined is substantially as disclosedin LettersPatent No. 1,030,522, granted on June 25, 1912, on an application of R.F. McFeely, and the above-described features of the present inventionare herein shown as ap-- plied also to such a double gripper. Moreparticularly, each of the two gripper casings has therein a pawl carriedby the gripper bar and arranged to engage teeth on that casing, the twopawls being controlled by the single latch and when moved by the latchinto positions to engagethe' teeth locking the casings and the gripperbar against relative movements by the springs in the casings when thejaws release the upper, regardless of the relative post tions: assumedby the two casings in the pulling of the upper. This avoids, in the samemanner as hereinbefore explained with reference to the gripper having asingle pair of jaws, any tendency for the gripper springs to retard thewithdrawal of the jaws from the shoe upon their release of the upper. Toinsure, moreover, that neither of the two pairs of jaws will start topull theupper before the upper has been gripped with the requisiteamount of force, there is mounted in each gripper casing a plateprovided with a plurality of rolls arranged to act; in the same manneras the plate and rollshereinbefore described as associated with theclosing slide of the gripper having a single pair of jaws.

The novel features of the invention, including various novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularlydescribed with referenceto' the accompanying drawings andthereafterpointed out" in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. I is a view partly in left-hand side elevation and partly insection showing generally the arrangement of the grippers and theiroperating means in a machine of the type to which the invention is shownas applied;

Fig. 2 is a view from the front, with parts broken away, showing thegreater portion of the toe-end gripper detached and differently orientedthan in the machine, the parts being shown in. their initial positions;

Fig; 3 is a section on' the line III-III of Fig. 2', with the parts in.the same positions as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the parts in the positionswhich they occupy in the pulling of the upper;

Fig. 5- is a view also similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts as theyappear after release of the upper by the gripper but before thejaw-closing slide has fully returned to its initial position;

Fig. 6 shows one of two double side grippers included in the machine, asviewed from its outer side but with parts" broken away, this gripperalso being diiferently 4. oriented than in the machine and the partsbeing shown in their initial positions;

Fig. 7 shows the double side gripper as viewed in the direction of thearrow A in Fig. 6, with parts broken away, the parts being shown in thesame positions as in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the parts in the positionswhich they occupy in the pulling of the pp Fig. 9 is a view also similarto Fig. 7, with the parts as they appear after release of the upper bythe gripper;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of. the structure included inthe double side gripper; and

Fig. If is a perspective view showing detached a device included in thetoe gripper.

A machine of the type to which the invention is shown as appliedincludes a toe gripper 2 for pulling the upper at the end of the toe andopposite side grippers 4 which, as herein illustrated, are commonlydouble grippers, only one of the two side grippers being visible inFig. 1. The" toe gripper is pivotally connected at its upper end by apin 6 for swinging movements lengthwise of the shoe to an updraw lever 8fulcrumed between its opposite ends on a rod 10 and connected at itsrear end to a block 12 movably mounted on a vertical rod 14. This rodextends upwardly from a cam-operated slide 16 and is surrounded by acompression spring 18, commonly referred to as an updraw spring, locatedbetween the block 12 and a nut 20 on the upper end of the rod. The slide16 carries a roll 22 mounted in a cam groove 24 formed in a cam member26 which is fast on a cam shaft 28. It will be understood that the toegripper is operated to pull the upper by downward movement of the slide16, the spring 18- yielding more or less in response to resistance ofthe upper to the force of the pull applied thereto. Upon release of theupper by the gripper the spring expands to withdraw the gripper from theshoe hei'ghtwise thereof as wiping means carried by a swinging toetacker arm 30 is moved rearwardly to wipe the margin of the upper overthe insole into position to be fastened by a tack. As the tacker arm isthus swung rearwardly the toe gripper is swung in the same directionrelatively to the updraw lever 8 to' make way for the tacker arm byso-called overdraw springs 32, the gripper being guided in its swingingmovement by a bracket 34 on the frame. Such swinging movement of thegripper is permitted by retractive movement of gripper-spreadingmechanism a portion of which is shown at 36 in Fig. 1 and which servesto impart forward return movement to the gripper in the return of theparts to starting positions.

Each of the opposite side grippers 4 is connected at its upper end by aball joint 38 to a side updraw lever 40 also ful'crumed on the rod 10,only one of these levers being visible in the drawings. Each side updrawlever is connected at its rear end, similarly to the toe gripper updrawlever, to a block 42 mounted on a vertical rod 44 extending upwardlyfrom a second cam slide 46, each rod being surrounded by an updrawspring 48 under compression between the block 42 and a nut 50 on theupper endof the rod. The slide 46 carries a roll 52 mounted in a camgroove 54 formed in a cam member 56 fast on the cam shaft 28. It will beunderstood that in the operation of the side grippers to pull the upperthe springs 48 are more or less compressed and upon release of the upperby these grippers move the latter far ther upwardly away from the shoesimultaneously with inward swinging movements thereof effected byoverdraw springs (not shown). The inward movements of the side grippersare accompanied by inward swinging movements of side tacker arms (alsonot shown), the inward movements of these grippers being permitted byretractive movements of portions of the same gripper-spreading mechanism36 which controls the toe gripper. The construction thus far describedmay be better understood by reference to Letters Patent No. 1,029,3 8-7.

The part of the toe gripper 2 which is pivotally mounted on the pin 6consists of a gripper bar 58 (Figs. 1 and 2) arranged to extend towardthe shoe into a gripper casing 60 including a detachable front coverplate 62. The casing'60 is guided in the bracket 34, and its initialposition heightwise of the shoe is determined by engagement of lugs 64on opposite sides thereof with the bracket. Secured in fixed relation tothe casing 60 is a gripper jaw 66, and arranged to cooperate with thisjaw in gripping the margin of the upper is a jaw 68 pivotally mounted ona pin 70 in the casing. The pivoted jaw is controlled by a jaw-closingdevice 72, which may be termed a closing slide, movably mounted in thecasing and carrying a roll 74 arranged to engage a tail portion 76 ofthe pivoted jaw to swing this jaw toward the fixed jaw 66 for grippingthe margin of the upper. Pivotally mounted on a pin 78 on the closingslide is a finger 80 the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained,and when the closing slide is in its initial position a hub portion ofthis finger engages the tail portion 76 of the jaw 68 and thereby holdsthe jaw in open position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In the constructionherein shown the closing slide is held initially in the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 3 by a pair of springs 82 (Fig. 2) whichextend into sockets formed in the closing slide and the gripper bar 58.

For imparting to the closing slide 72 movement to close the jaw 68 onthe upper there is pivotally mounted on a pin 84 on a forked end portionof the gripper bar 58 a latch 86 arranged to engage an abutment 88formed on the closing slide. The latch is held in the position to act onthe closing slide by a spring 90 mounted in a bore in the latch andpressing against a movable pin 92 which is held by the spring inengagement with a crosspiece 94 inserted in grooves in the gripper bar.Fixed in the gripper casing 60, within the forked portion of the gripperbar, is a member 96 engaged by one end of a spring 98 which extends intoa bore in the gripper bar and is seated at its other end against thebar. This spring is under compression and applies force in oppositedirections respectively to the gripper bar and the gripper casing.Initially the parts are in the positions in which they are shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, and as the cam slide 16 begins to move downward itacts through the spring 18 to swing the lever 8 and thus to move thegripper bar 58 in a direction away from the shoe. At first, however, thespring 98 holds the gripper casing 60 stationary in the positiondetermined by engagement of its lugs 64 with the bracket 34, andaccordingly the gripper bar moves relatively to the casing, causing thelatch 86 to move the closing slide 72 from the position shown in Fig. 3to that shown in Fig. 4, the roll 74 on the slide acting on the tail 76of the jaw 68 to close that jaw on the margin of the upper. When theresistance of the upper to the closing movement of the jaw becomes greatenough to prevent further expansion of the spring 98, the gripper barstarts to move the casing 60 with it to cause the jaws to pull theupper, the bar thus acting on the casing through the closing slide andthe pivoted jaw. Before the completion of the upper-pulling movement ofthe gripper the spring 18 through which movement is transmitted from theslide 16 to the lever 8 is more or less compressed, as hereinbeforeexplained.

It will be noted that a portion of the finger 80 is arranged to engagethe latch 86, and when the tacker arm 30 is swung inwardly after theupper-pulling operation, as hereinbefore described, it acts on thefinger 80 and causes the latter to swing the latch 86 out of position toact on the abutment 88. In this manner the gripper bar 58 isdisconnected from the closing slide 72 to cause the gripper jaws torelease the upper, permitting the springs 82 to impart return movementto the closing slide as indicated by the arrow a in Fig. 5. Upon releaseof the upper the spring 18 expands and thereby moves the gripper fartheraway from the shoe heightwise thereof while it is being swung inwardlyover the shoe bottom. In the return of the parts thereafter to startingpositions the gripper is moved reversely heightwise of the shoe by thelever 8 until the lugs 64 on the gripper casing 60 engage the bracket 34and thereby stop the movement of the casing. Continued movement of thegripper bar thereafter against the resistance of the spring 98 returnsthe latch 86 into position to be swung by its spring into operativerelation to the abutment 88 of the closing slide 72, as shown in Fig. 3,ready to operate the slide and close the jaw 68 on the upper of the nextshoe.

The construction of the toe gripper as thus far described, except forthe provision of the springs 82 for returning the closing slide, isessentially the same as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,030,264. Itwill be evident that when the gripper bar is disconnected by the latch86 from the closing slide the spring 98 is freed for further expansionin the absence of anything to prevent relative movement of the gripperbar and the gripper casing under the influence of the spring. This hasresulted heretofore in a sudden short movement of the casing, with thegripper jaws thereon, reversely in a direction toward the shoerelatively to the gripper bar, such movement of the casing being limitedby engagement of the crosspiece 94 on the gripper bar with the member 96in the casing. It will be evident that the tendency of such movement ofthe casing is to retard the withdrawal of the gripper jaws from the shoeby the spring 18 after their release of the upper, and under someconditions it has happened that the jaws have not been withdrawn quicklyenough to prevent them from engaging and displacing the edge of theinsole in their swinging movements inwardly over the shoe bottom. Theinvention accordingly provides means for preventing the casing 60 frombeing moved relatively to the gripper bar by the spring 98 when thegripper releases the upper. This means comprises a pawl 100 pivotallymounted on the same pin 84 as the latch 86, this pawl being arranged toengage teeth 102 formed on the cover plate 62 of the gripper casing.Mounted in the pawl and abutting against a portion of the latch 86 is aspring 104 which tends to move the pawl in a clockwise direction as theparts are viewed in Fig. 3 and holds it normally in a relation to thelatch determined by engagement of a projection 106 on the pawl with thelatch. When the latch is in the operative position in which it is shownin Figs. 3 and 4 the pawl is held by the latch in a position where itwill just clear the teeth 102 during the closing of the gripper and thepulling of the upper regardless of the movement of the closing slide 72in the gripper casing. When the latch 86, however, is moved by thefinger 80 into position to disconnect it from the closing slide, thismovement of the latch carries the pawl into position to engage the teeth102, the pawl arriving in position to cooperate with the teeth beforethe latch actually releases the closing slide. The result is that thegripper bar 58 and the gripper casing 60 are locked together against anyrelative movement under the influence of the spring 98, as illustratedin Fig. 5, thus preventing any further expansion of the spring uponrelease of the upper by the gripper. Accordingly, the expansion of theupdraw spring 18 is immediately effective 'to retract the gripper jawsheightwise of the shoe without any tendency for such retractive movementof the jaws to be retarded by reverse movement of the gripper casingrelatively to the gripping bar. It will be understood that as thegripper bar is moved relatively to the casing in the return of the partsto starting positions the pawl 100 slips yieldingly over the teeth 102until the latch 86 is swung to its initial position by the spring 90,such swinging movement of the latch serving to return the pawl to aposition where it will not engage the teeth as the gripper is closed onthe upper of the next shoe.

It will be evident that when the closing slide 72 is moved relatively tothe casing to closev the pivoted jaw 68 on the upper, the tail portion76 of the jaw by its engagement with the roll. 74 exerts a thrust on theclosing slide: toward one side of the casing. Because of the result-ing.friction between the slide and the casing itv has sometimes happenedheretofore that the casing would start to move with the gripper barbefore the upper was gripped with. the desired amount of force and undersome conditions the upper would slip in the gripper jaws and might slipout from. between the jaws. To insure against such a result the casing.60 in the construction herein shown is provided along one side with arecess 108 in which is mounted a small plate 110. As shown in Fig. 11,this. plate has in each. of its: opposite side margins a series 015recesses 112. in which are mounted rolls 114 the diameters of which are:slightly greater than the thickness of the plate, the recesses having.curved walls providing bearings for the rolls. Each series of rolls isheld in the recesses by a wire 116 engaging. the outer ends of the rollsand anchored at its opposite ends in the plate. It will thus be seenthat the rolls engage at their opposite sides respectively the closingslide 72 and the casing. 60 and support. the slide against the lateralthrust applied thereto by the tail portion of the jaw 68. As the closingslide is moved. relatively to the casing to close the jaw 68 on theupper the plate moves: with. it in the same direction but a shorterdistance, the rolls turning. in rolling engagement with the slide and.the casing. Friction between the closing slide and the side of thecasing toward which the thrust of the tail portion of the jaw 68 isexerted is thus avoided, and as a result insurance is attorded that theupper will be gripped firmly enough under any conditions to prevent itfrom slipping in the gripper jaws. Located in the plate 110 is anopening 118 to provide clearance for the tail portion 76 of the jaw 68.To insure that in the closing of the gripper the plate 110 will bepositioned in proper relation to the portion of the closing slide wherethe roll 74 is located, the plate is confined between the fixed jaw 66and a lug 120 on the closing slide, this lug being arranged to returnthe plate to the position in. which it is shown in Fig. 3 in the returnof the parts of the gripper to their starting positions.

In general accordance with the disclosure of Letters Patent No.1,030,522, each of the two double side grippers 4 comprises a gripperbar 122' connected by the previously mentioned ball joint 38 to thecorresponding updraw lever 40' and a pair of gripper casings 124 (Fig.6) each including on its outer side a detachable cover plate 126. Opensides of the two casings are adjacent to each. other to provide a commonchamber into which the gripper bar extends, and by tongu'e-and-grooveconnections, not herein shown in detail, between the gripper bar and thecasings' the latter are guided for relative movements height- Wise ofthe shoe. Mounted in sockets in the gripper bar are two springs 128which are under compression and are in engagement respectively withmembers 130 fixed in the different gripper casings, these springsholding the casings initially in positions determined by the engagementof lugs 132 (Fig. 6) thereon with the previously mentioned bracket 34.Mounted on the lower end of each casing in fixed relation thereto isagripper jaw 134, and pivotally, mounted on a pin 136 in each casing forswinging movement toward and from the jaw 134 is a jaw 138. Movably'mounted in each casing is a closing slide 140 which carries a roll 142'arranged to engage a curved tail portion 144 of the pivoted jaw 138 toswing that jaw into position to grip the margin of the upper between itand the fixed jaw 134 in response to upward movement of the closingvslide relatively tothe casing 124.

Mounted for sliding movements in directions lengthwise of the shoe inguideways formed in the two closing; slides 140 are blocks 146 in whichare swiveled the opposite ends. of a lever 148 pivotally mounted betweenits ends on a stud 150 carried by a block 152. This block is mounted ona slide 154 in fixed relation to the slide,

and an upwardly extending portion of the slide 154 has along, itsopposite side margins grooves 156 (Fig. 6} to receive marginal portionsof the two cover plates 126. The slide 154 is accordingly guided by thecover plates and the gripper bar to move in directions heightwise oi theshoe, and it willbe. understood that it is by movement of this slide andthe block. 152 in. an upward direc-- tion that the two closing. slides140 are operated to close the pivoted jaws 138 on the upper, the lever148 permitting. such relative movements of the closing: slides as may benecessitated by different thicknesses of upper materials engaged by theditierent pairs of gripper jaws. For thus moving the slide 154 to closethe jaws there is pivotally mounted on a pin 158 on the lower end of thegripper bar 122 alatch- 160 arranged to engage and. act

on the block 152. The latch is heldinitially in position thus to act onthe block, as shown in- Fig. 7, by a spring 162 mounted in a socket inthe gripper bar 122 and: acting on a pin 164 (Fig. 10') which engages.the latch atone side of the pin 158. The springs 128 hold the grippercasings 124 stationary while the gripper jaws are thus being closed on:the upper, after which, inresponse to resistance of the upper to furtherclosing movements of the jaws, the gripper casings are. moved upwardlyby further movement ot the gripper bar to cause the jaws to pult theupper, as illustrated in Fig. 8. In this operation the lever 148 permitsrelative movement of the two casings in accordance with such differencesas there may be in. the resistance of the portions of the upper actedupon. respectively by the different pairs of jaws. In. the constructionhereinv shown, as sometimes heretofore, the two arms of the lever 148 atthe opposite sides respectively of the stud 150 are of difierent lengthsto cause one pair of jaws. to apply to the upper a more forcible pullthan the other pair of jaws.

Pivotall'y mounted on a pin 166 carried by the block 152 is a finger 168on. which is formed a lug 170 arranged to engage the latch 160.Associated with each of the side grippers is a side tacker arm (notshown) which, like the toe tacker arm 30, carries wiping means forwiping the margin of the upper inwardly over the insole into position tobe tacked and which is swung inwardly widthwise of the shoe after thepulling of the upper simultaneously with inward. swinging movements ofthe side grippers. Each side tacker arm in its inward swinging movementacts on the finger 168 of the corresponding. side gripper and byswinging movement of the finger about the pin 166 disconnects the latch160 from the block 152'. In this manner the gripper bar 122 isdisconnected from the two closing slides 14%, whereupon the slide 154and the closing. slides are moved reversely in directions toward thegripper jaws by a spring 172 (Fig. 6) which is mounted in a socket inthe slide 154 and abuts at one end against a member 174 on the gripperbar 122. Extending from this member part way through the spring is a rod176 which helps to hold the spring in place. It will be understood thatthe disconnection of the gripper bar from the closing slides causes thegripper jaws to release the upper, and upon such release of the upper bythe jaws the updraw spring 48 acting on the corresponding updraw lever40 expands to move the side gripper farther away from the shoeheightwise thereof as it is being swung inwardly over the shoe bottom.In the return of the parts thereafter to starting positions the gripperis moved reversely heightwise of the shoe by the lever 40 until the lugs132 on the gripper casings engage the bracket 34 and thereby stop themovements of the casings. Continued movement of the gripper bar'thereafter against the resistance of the springs 128 returns the latch160 into position to be swung by the spring 162 into operative relation.to the block 152, as shown in Fig. 7, ready to operate the block andclose the jaws 138 on the upper of the next shoe.

It will be evident that when the gripper bar 122 of each side gripper isdisconnected, as above described, by the latch 160 from the closingslides 140, the springs 128 will, in the absence of anything to prevent,further expand and move the casings 126 suddenly short distances towardthe shoe relatively to the gripper bar. Such movements of the casings,limited by engagement of the members 130 therein with lugs 178 onopposite sides of the gripper bar, have had the same tendency heretoforeto retard the withdrawal of the side gripper jaws from the shoeby theupdraw spring 48 that the similar movement of the toe gripper casing hashad to retard the withdrawal of the toe gripper jaws. To prevent thisthere are pivotally mounted on the same pin 158 as the latch 160 twopawls 180 (Fig. at opposite sides of the latch respectively, these pawlsbeing arranged to engage teeth 182 formed on the cover plates 126 of thedifferent gripper casings 124. Mountedin sockets formed in laterallyextending lugs on the latch and in tail portions 184 of the pawls aresprings 186 which tend to swing the pawls relatively to the latch towardthe teeth 182. To limit such swinging movements of the pawls each pawlhas thereon a lug 188 extending laterally therefrom into a recess 190 inan adjacent hub portion of the latch 160, as shown in Fig. 10. Normallythis lug, under the influence of the spring 186, is held in engagementwith a shoulder 192 on the hub of the latch, and when the latch is inposition to act on the block 152 the pawl is thus held in a positionwhere it will not engage the teeth 182 during the closing of the gripperjaws and the pulling of the upper, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. Whenthe latch, however, is moved by the finger 168 into position todisconnect the closing slides 140 from the gripper bar 122, thismovement of the latch carries the two pawls 180 into engagement with theteeth 182 on the respective cover plates 126. Accordingly the gripperbar and the two gripper casings are locked together against relativemovements by the springs 128 before the latch actually releases theclosing slides, thus preventing any further expansion of the springsupon release of the upper by the gripper. The expansion of the updrawspring 48 associated with each side gripper updraw lever 40 is thereforeimmediately effective to withdraw the side gripper jaws from the shoeheightwise thereof without any tendency for such movements of the jawsto be retarded by reverse movements of the gripper casings relatively tothe gripper bar. When the gripper bar of each gripper is movedrelatively to the casings in the return of the parts to startingpositions the pawls 180 slip yieldingly over the teeth 182 until thelatch 160 is swung by its spring 162 into position again to act on theblock 152, this swinging movement of the latch serving to return thepawls to positions where they will not engage the teeth as the gripperjaws are closed on the upper of the next shoe and during the pulling ofthat upper.

Each of the two casings 124 of each double side gripper has therein arecess 194 (Fig. 7) in which is movably mounted a plate 196 generallysimilar to the plate 110 (Fig. 11) of the toe gripper and similarlyprovided with a plurality of rolls 198 arranged to support thecorresponding closing slide 140 against the lateral thrust appliedthereto by the tail portion 144 of the gripper jaw 138 in the closing ofthe jaw on the upper. As hereinbefore explained with reference to thetoe gripper, this avoids friction between the closing slide and the sideof the casing toward which the thrust of the tail portion of the jaw isexerted and thereby insures that the upper will be gripped firmly enoughto prevent it from slipping in the gripper jaws before the gripperbegins to pull it. Each plate 196 is confined in its movement betweenthe fixed gripper jaw 134 and a lug 200 (Fig. 9) on the closing slide140, this lug extending into a slot 202 in the plate and serving toreturn the plate to its initial position when the closing slide isreturned.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a machine forshaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling an upper over a last,said gripper comprising a movable casing, a pair of upper-gripping jawscarried by said casing, jaw-closing means in the casing, a gripper barconnected to said jaw-closing means for moving said means relatively tothe casing to effect relative closing movement of the jaws and forthereafter moving the casing to cause the jaws to pull the upper inresponse to resistance of the upper to further relative movement of thejaws, a spring arranged to apply force in opposite directionsrespectively to the gripper bar and the casing and to hold the casingagainst movement until after the relative closing movement of the jaws,means for disconnecting the gripper bar from said jaw-closing meansafter the pulling of the upper to cause the jaws to release the upper,and a device for automatically preventing the casing from being moved bysaid spring relatively to the gripper bar in a direction toward the shoewhen the jaws release the upper.

2. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling anupper over a last, said gripper comprising a movable casing, a pair ofupper-gripping jaws carried by said casing, jaw-closing means in thecasing, a gripper bar connected to said jaw-closing means for movingsaid means relatively to the casing to effect relative closing movementof the jaws and for thereafter moving the casing to cause the jaws topull the upper in response to resistance of the upper to furtherrelative movement of the jaws, a spring arranged to apply force inopposite directions respectively to the gripper bar and the casing andto hold the casing against movement until after the relative closingmovement of the jaws, means for disconnecting the gripper bar from saidjaw-closing means after the pulling of the upper to cause the jaws torelease the upper, and means constructed and arranged to lock saidgripper bar and casing together against relative movement by said springafter the gripping of the upper but prior to its release by the gripperjaws to prevent the casing from being moved by said spring relatively tothe gripper bar in a direction toward the shoe upon such release of theupper.

3. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling anupper over a last, said gripper comprising a movable casing, a pair ofupper-gripping jaws carried by said casing, jaw-closing means in thecasing, a gripper bar connected to said jaw-closing means for movingsaid means relatively to the casing to effect relative closing movementof the jaws and for thereafter moving the casing to cause the jaws topull the upper in response to resistance of the upper to furtherrelative movement of the jaws, a spring arranged to apply force inopposite directions respectively to the gripper bar and the casing andto hold the casing against movement until after the relative closingmovement of the jaws, means for disconnecting the gripper bar from saidjaw-closing means after the pulling of the upper to cause the jaws torelease the upper, a plurality of teeth on said casing, a pawl carriedby the gripper bar for engaging said teeth to lock the bar and thecasing together against relative movement by said spring, and means formoving said pawl into engagement with the teeth after the pulling of theupper to prevent such relative movement of the bar and the casing whenthe jaws release the upper.

4. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling anupper over a last, said gripper comprising a movable casing, a pair ofupper-gripping jaws carried by said casing, jaw-closing means in thecasing, a gripper bar, a member arranged to connect said gripper bar tothe jaw-closing means for moving said means by the bar relatively to thecasing to effect relative closing movement of the jaws and forthereafter moving the casing to cause the jaws to pull the upper inresponse to resistance of the upper to further relative movement of thejaws, a spring arranged to apply force in opposite directionsrespectively to the gripper bar and the casing and to hold the casingagainst movement until after the relative closing movement of the jaws,means for moving, said member to disconnect the gripper bar from. the,

jaw-closing means after the pulling of the upper to cause the jaws torelease the upper, and. a device arranged. to be moved by said memberinto position to prevent the casing. from being moved by said springrelatively to the gripper bar in a direction toward the shoe when thejaws. release the upper.

5.. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling anupper over a last, said. gripper com-- prising a movable casing, a. pairof upper-gripping jaws carried by said casing, jaw-closing means in thecasing, a gripper bar, a member arranged to connect said gripper bar tothe jaw-closing means for moving said means by the bar relatively to thecasing to effect relative closing movement of the jaws and forthereafter moving the casing to cause the jaws. to pull the upper in.response to resistance of the upper to further relative movement of thejaws, a spring arranged to apply force in opposite directionsrespectively to the gripper bar and the casing and to hold the casingagainst movement until after the relative closing movement of the jaws,means for moving. said member to disconnect the gripper bar from thejaw-closing means after the pulling. of the upper to cause the jaws torelease the upper, and means responsive to that movement of said memberfor locking the gripper bar and the casing against relative movement bysaid spring when the jaws release the upper.

6. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling anupper over. a last, said gripper comprising a movable casing, a pair ofupper-gripping jaws carried by said casing, jaw-closing means in thecasing, a gripper bar, a latch arrangedv to connect the gripper bar tosaid jaw-closing means for moving said means by the bar relatively tothe casing to effect relative closing movement of the jaws and forthereafter moving. the casing to cause the jaws to pull the upper inresponse to resistance of the upper to further relative movement of thejaws, a spring arranged to apply force in opposite directionsrespectively to the gripper bar and the casing and to hold the casingagainst movement until after the relative closing movement of the jaws,means for moving said latch to disconnect the gripper bar from thejaw-closing means after the pulling of the upper to cause the jawstorelease the upper, a plurality of teeth on said casing, and a pawlcarried by the gripper bar for engaging said teeth to lock the gripperbar and the casing against relative movement by said spring, said pawlbeing arranged to be moved into engagement with the teeth in response tothe movement of said latch when the latch is moved to disconnect thegripper bar from the jaw-closing means.

7. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling anupper over a last, said gripper comprising a pair of casings mounted tomove together and also relatively heightwise of the last, a pair ofupper-gripping jaws carried by each of said casings, jaw-closing meansineach casing, a gripper bar common to both casings and connected to thejaw-closing means in each casing for moving said means relatively to thecasing to eiiect relative closing movement of the jaws and forthereafter moving the casing to cause the jaws to pull the upper inresponse to resistance of the upper to further relative movement of thejaws, springs arranged to apply force in one direction to the gripperbar and in the opposite direction respectively to the different casingsand to hold the casings against movement until after the relativeclosing movements of the jaws, means for disconnecting the gripper barfrom the jaw-closing. means in both casings after the pulling of theupper to cause the jaws to release the upper, and means for automatical-Iy preventing the casings from being moved by said springs relatively tothe gripper bar in a direction toward the shoe when the jaws release theupper.

8. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling anupper over a last, said gripper comprising a pair of casings mounted tomove together and also relatively heightwise of the last, a pair ofupper-gripping, jawsv carried by each of said casings, jaw-closing meansin. each casing, a gripper bar common to both casings and connected tothe jaw-closing means in each. casing, for moving said means relativelyto the casing to effect relative closing movement of the jaws and forthereafter moving. the casing to cause the jaws topull the upper in.response to resistance of the upper to further relative movement of thejaws, springs arranged to apply force in one direction to the gripperbar and in the opposite direction respectively to the difierent casingsand to hold the casings against movement until after the relativeclosing movements of the jaws, means for disconnecting. the gripper barfrom the jaw-closing means in. both casings after the pulling of theupper to cause the jaws to release the upper, and mechanism constructedand arranged to lock said gripper bar and the casings against relativemovement by said springs after the pulling of the upper and thereby toprevent such relative movement when the jaws release the upper.

9. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling anupper over a last, said gripper comprising; a pair of casings mounted tomove together and also relatively heightwise of the last, a pair ofupper-gripping jaws carried by each of said casings, jaw-closing meansin each casing, a gripper bar common to both casings and connected tothe jaw-closing means in each casing. for moving said means relativelyto the casing to effect relative closing movement of the jaws and forthereafter moving the casing to cause the jaws to pull the upper inresponse to resistance of the upper to further relative movement of thejaws, springs arranged to apply force in one direction to the gripperbar and in the opposite direction respectively to the different casingsand to hold the casings against movement until after the relativeclosing movements of the jaws, means for disconnectingv the gripper barfrom the jaw-closing means in both casings after the pulling of theupper to cause the jaws to release the upper, each of said casingshaving a plurality of teeth thereon, pawls carried by the gripper barand arranged respectively to engage the teeth on the different casingsto lock the bar and the casings together against relative movement bysaid springs, and means for moving said pawls into engagement with theteeth after the pulling of the upper to prevent such relative movementof the bar and the casings when the jaws release the upper.

it). In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pullingan upper over a last, said gripper comprising a pair of casings mountedto move together and also relatively heightwise of the last, a pair ofuppergripping jaws carried by each of said casings, jaw-closing means ineach casing, a gripper bar common to both casings, mechanism including areleasing member arranged to connect said gripper bar to the jaw-closingmeans in both casings for moving said means relatively to the casings toeffect relative closing movements of the jaws and for thereafter movingthe casings to cause the jaws to pull the upper in response toresistance of the upper to further relative movements of the jaws,springs arranged to apply force in one direction to the gripper bar andin the opposite direction respectively to the different casingsand tohold the casings against movement until after the relative closingmovements of the jaws, means for moving said releasing member todisconnect the gripper bar from the jaw-closing means in both casingsafter the pulling of the upper to cause the jaws to release the upper,and devices arranged to be moved by said releasing member intopositionsto prevent the easings from being moved by said springs relatively tothe gripper bar in a direction toward the shoe when the jaws release theupper.

11. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripper for pulling anupper over a last, said gripper comprising a pair of casings mounted tomove together and also relatively heightwise of the last, a pair ofuppergripping jaws carried by each of said casings, jaw-closing means ineach casing, a gripper bar common to both casings, mechanism including areleasing member arranged to connect said gripper bar to the jaw-closingmeans in both casings for moving said means relatively to the casings toelfect relative closing movements of the jaws and for thereafter movingthe casings to cause the jaws to pull the upper in response toresistance of the upper to further relative movements of the jaws,springs arranged to apply force in one direction to the gripper bar andin the opposite direction respectively to the different casings and tohold the casings against movement until after the relative closingmovements of the jaws, means for moving said releasing member todisconnect the gripper bar from the jaw-closing means in both casingsafter the pulling of the upper to cause the jaws to release the upper,and means responsive to that movement of said releasing member forlocking the gripper bar and the casings against relative movement bysaid springs when the jaws release the upper.

12. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, a gripperfor pulling anupper over a last, said gripper comprising a pair of casings mounted tomove together and also relatively heightwise of the last, a pair ofuppergripping jaws carried by each of said casings, jaw-closing means ineach casing, a gripper bar common to both casings, mechanism including alatch arranged to connect said gripper bar to the jaw-closing means inboth casings for moving said means relatively to the casings to effectrelative closing movements of the jaws and for thereafter moving thecasings to cause the jaws to pull the upper in response to resistance ofthe upper to fur ther relative movements of the jaws, springs arrangedto apply force in one direction to the gripper bar and in the oppositedirection respectively to the difierentcasings and to hold the casingsagainst movement until after the relative closing movements of the jaws,means for moving said latch to disconnect the gripper bar from thejaw-closing means in both casings after the pulling of the upper tocause the jaws to release the upper, each of said casings having aplurality of teeth thereon, and pawls carried by the gripper bar andarranged respectively to engage the teeth on the diiferent casings tolock the bar and the casings together against relative movement by saidsprings, said pawls being arranged to be moved by said latch intoengagement with the teeth when the latch is moved to disconnect thegripper bar from the jaw-closing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS954,933 Cossey Apr. 12, 1910 1,030,264 McFeely June 18, 1912 1,030,522McFeely June 25, 1912 1,898,273 Stevens Feb. 21, 1933 2,025,721Broulhiet Dec. 31, 1935 2,030,789 Harris Feb. 11, 1936 2,366,237 ClausenJan. 2, 1945

